Sick Drummer Magazine is of course about extreme metal drumming, but also features amazing players from other styles from time to time in our Offbeat Section. This video is Virgil Donati, Derek Roddy and Jota Morelli all hanging at the Brady Drums booth at NAMM 2011. We have other footage of Derek and Jota in the Axis Percussion booth. One from Derek is already posted and the rest will be added throughout the next 2 weeks.
Many of you already know Derek Roddy and Virgil Donati, but you may not know of Jota Morelli. He was amazing to watch and amazing to be around. He was one of those guys who is just always smiling it seemed. A very skilled player with an amazing resume and a super friendly, respectful individual.
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If you want more information on Jota Morelli, keep reading…
Jota Morelli was born in Venado Tuerto (Santa Fe, Argentina). Jota began playing drums at the age of 10, studying piano from Norberto J. Morelli and drums with Carlos Riganti and Alex Sanguinetti.
At the age of 20, Jota moved to Buenos Aires and a couple of years later he came to the attention of Oscar Mediavilla who hired him as the drummer for La Torre, featuring the Famous Singer Patricia Sosa. During his time with La Torre, Jota recorded three albums and toured extensively throughout Argentina.
After leaving La Torre in 1985, Jota relocated to NYC, where he took the first steps toward working in North America. Before, after and during his time in NYC, Jota was the drummer for the great fusion band "Madre Atomica" Featuring Mono Fontana, Guillermo Vadala and Lito Epumer, recording the album, "Madre Atomica" with them in 1986 and later founding the music school "Musiquarium" in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Following his time in New York City, Jota started working in the studio and on the road with very important Argentinean acts like: Riff(Pappo, Jaf and Vitico), Lito Vitale Cuarteto, Pedro Aznar (Ex Pat Metheny Group), recording the Album "Azul 20", Juan Carlos Baglietto, Ruben Goldin, Metropolis, Viuda e hijas de Rock'en Roll and Fito Paez.
In 1986, Jota recorded and toured with Lito Vitale. Following Lito Vitale, in 1987 he became the drummer for the legendary pop Artist Luis Alberto Spinetta recording three albums and touring extensively throughout Latin America between 1987 and 1992. One highlight being an appearance at UCLA's Wadsworth Theatre.
On a break from his duties, with Luis Alberto Spinetta en 1989, Jota toured throughout Venezuela with Argentina Rock Star Fito Paez.
From 1993 to 1997, Jota recorded three albums with Diego Torres, the first two going gold in Latin America. While with Diego Torres, Jota was involved in several side projects, including recording and touring with Seru Giran Guitarrist David Lebon in 1993 and 1994; performing in a trio with bass player Javier Malosetti and keyboardist Mono Fontana, and playing with Famed Luis Salinas.also he recorded with virtuoso guitar player"sarten asaresi'' who was his mentor.
After leaving his duties with Diego Torres in 1997, Jota Moved to Los Angeles, where he started playing with the band "Bandidos de Amor" and recorded two albums with them. In December of 1997, Jota toured Japan with Carl Anderson and Maysa, featuring the great Alphonso Johnson in Bass, Freddie Ravel ..boards, and Michael O'Neill on Guitar.
From 1998 to 2002, Jota was the drummer for Grammy award winner Al Jarreau. By 1990 he began freelancing extensively, both live and in the studio with great musicians like Al Jarreau,Gloria Gaynor, Engelbert Humperdink, Ricky Martin, Alejandro Sanz, Frank Gambale, Scott Henderson, Luis Conte, Abraham Laboriel, Mike miller, Jean Michael Byron, Bobby Mc Ferrin, Luis Salinas, Renato Neto, Marco Mendoza, Dave Carpenter, federico Gonzalez peña,sarten Asaresi,Jaime Ciero,Alejandro lerner, Salo Loyo,Pancho Loyo,Lalo Carrillo, Jeff Nathanson, James baker, Jimmy Johnson, Hans zermuehlen, John Guilutin, Ross Bolton, Chris walker, Joe Turano, Larry Williams, Michael Tompson, Jeff Richman, Armand sabal Leco, Machi Rufino, Sandra Mihanovich, Kika, Pablo De La Losa, Facundo Monty, Chris Trujillo, Andre Berri, Wade3 from the soul psychedelique and the great sound engineer Gustavo Borner.
Jota’s versatile style and solid technique has not only earned him the respect of his peers, but recognition and awards. In 1993 he was the winner of the "all around National Drummer's Poll" sponsored by "El Musiquero Magazine" and "Ferimusica". In 1994 Jota was a featured performer at the Zildjian Clinic along side other drumming great as Dennis Chambers, Alex Acuna and Will Calhoun.
Jota Played 5 years with Luis Alberto Spinetta from 1987 to 1992. Recording together “Tester de Violencia”, “Don Lucero” and “Fuego Gris”.
From 1993 to 1997 Jota played with Diego Torres, recording three records with him. Jota also played with Guitar virtuoso Pappo and David Lebon as well as with Madre Atomica. In those years he also played and recorded with Luis Salinas. Currently he has a trio with virtuoso bass player Guillermo Vadala and Javier Lozano ..keyboards…. also he is touring with virtuoso guitar player Luis Salinas. On september 2009 Jota joined the legendary rock band Enanitos Verdes and toured with them all along USA and mexico.
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